PATA developed the Guide to Sustainable Tourism as part of an initiative of the Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ) and SNV Asia of the Netherlands who together have seen increasing demand for information on issues of corporate governance; social (as well as environmental) sustainability; climate change (including carbon finance, sustainable energy and environmental health and safety); and gender equality and empowerment. They identified the need to publish a best practice guide for hotels and operators in Asia Pacific, specifically outlining case studies and action recommendations around sustainable development (SD) business practices within the travel and tourism industry.
Initially, the Guide to Sustainable Tourism features the work of 15 PATA members within the Asia-Pacific region and covers a variety of projects including hotels, dive sites and trekking operations. Case studies include details of why the companies concerned opted for a more responsible approach, what work took place and the results, which in every case show tangible benefits for tourists, the industry and the environment. Pictures of the projects are also available on the pages. PATA is actively looking for more successful CSR case studies and details of qualifying projects can be obtained direct from [email protected].
Launching the guide, PATA's secretary/treasurer Anthony Wong commented: "On behalf of PATA, I would like to thank GTZ and SNV (Asia) for their involvement in this initiative and I recommend everyone to join in the online forum that acts as an exchange of ideas on matters of CSR and Best Practice. The examples on the guide's pages underline our joint commitment and demonstrate that CSR can be realistic and yet still make good business sense."
The launch follows up on PATA's recent restatement of its commitment to sustainable tourism and CSR with the adoption of a Charter of Sustainability and Social Responsibility providing 'leadership towards the achievement of environmental and economic sustainability, cultural preservation and social responsibility by the tourism and travel industry in Asia Pacific.’ The Charter also pledges to ‘advance the role of tourism in poverty alleviation, social cohesion, cultural awareness and preservation of human dignity.’
PATA is now seeking support for the charter from a broad range of travel and tourism organisations — including NTOs. The co-operation with GTZ and SNV Asia is the first of what PATA expects will be a series of partnerships to ensure effective implementation of social responsibility programmes.
The Guide to Sustainable Tourism can be viewed at: http://www.pata.org/patasite/index.php?id=2448. and members of the media are welcome to use the case studies in whole or part. Ackowledgement of the source would be appreciated.
Issued by:
PATA Corporate Communications,
Bangkok, Thailand.
Tel: +66 2 658 2000
E-mail: [email protected]
Online newsroom: www.PATA.org
facebook: http://www.facebook.com/people/Pata-ENews/100000208366741
About PATA
The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) is a membership association acting as a catalyst for the responsible development of the Asia Pacific travel and tourism industry. In partnership with private and public sector members PATA enhances the sustainable growth, value and quality of travel and tourism to, from and within the region.
PATA provides leadership and counsel on an individual and collective basis to over 80 government, state and city tourism bodies; nearly 50 international airlines, airports and cruise lines and many hundreds of travel industry companies across the Asia Pacific region and beyond. Thousands of travel professionals belong to nearly 40 PATA chapters worldwide and participate in a wide range of PATA and industry events. PATA’s Strategic Intelligence Centre (SIC) offers unrivalled data and insights including Asia Pacific inbound and outbound statistics, analyses and forecasts as well as in-depth reports on strategic tourism markets. PATA is a not-for-profit organisation. For more information, please visit www.PATA.org.
About GTZ
GTZ of Germany is an international cooperation enterprise for sustainable development, also with worldwide operations. GTZ promotes complex reforms and change processes, often working under difficult conditions. Its corporate objective is to improve the living conditions and prospects of individuals in partner countries on a sustainable basis.
About SNV
SNV Asia is part of a worldwide international development organisation based in the Netherlands with over 40 years of experience, supporting efforts of national and local companies and individuals within government, society and the private sector to find and implement local solutions to social and economic development challenges.